Knight Soul Academy’s Selection Trial Begins

The day was bright and calm. A soft breeze passed over the massive arena grounds of Quingming, carrying with it the scent of polished stone, dust, and a hint of blooming spring. The stadium, grand and circular, had been carefully arranged for the most awaited part of the academy's selection test.Across the vast ground, elders moved with measured steps, checking arrangements one last time. Executive members from different sects exchanged a few serious words. The atmosphere, though not tense, held a distinct weight—one that came from responsibility and expectation.Around the edges of the preparation area, sect leaders could be seen in clusters, their voices low as they gave final instructions to their disciples. Each sect had sent fifteen cultivators. All of them had been chosen with care—each a representation of their sect’s current talent and pride.Among them stood Sheo, calm and observant. He had just finished greeting Elder Shuna and now stood beside her, quietly listening.Shuna’s tone was direct. “As we’ve heard, General Helmen will hand-pick one cultivator from each sect. That makes four. The remaining two spots,” she paused, “will be filled through open challenges.”Sheo’s gaze narrowed slightly. He didn’t respond. Instead, his thoughts quietly stirred.So that’s what they’re planning… They’re giving away a seat to one cultivator from each sect. Just like that? In front of so many ambitious, short-tempered cultivators?He didn’t say it aloud, but it bothered him. He could already imagine the reactions. The younger generation—quick to anger, quick to act—wouldn’t take this easily. A storm of challenges and frustration was bound to follow.But Sheo exhaled slowly, calming his thoughts.It doesn’t matter, he told himself. I’ve made my own plan. Let them play their games.About an hour later, a final call came. All selected participants were summoned to the stage.Just before Sheo turned to leave, Elder Shuna handed him a sword.“It’s not a special weapon,” she said plainly. “But it’s reliable. Well-crafted.”Sheo took it with a quiet nod. He didn’t respond. He already had powerful weapons—most notably, the False Star Sword, a secret he hadn’t revealed to anyone yet. But there was no need to speak of it now. He accepted Shuna’s gift without a word and moved forward.One by one, all the chosen members entered the central stadium.As Sheo stepped inside, he instinctively observed the space. The wide seating stands were filled to the brim. Elders, sect executives, and even special guests had come specifically to witness today’s test. Every corner was filled with watching eyes, hushed conversations, and quiet expectation.On the central ground below, sixty young cultivators stood—each one filled with energy, pride, and ambition.Amid the rising murmurs, a steady voice echoed across the arena, silencing the crowd like a sudden wave.“I hope your sects have briefed you well,” said General Helmen.His voice was firm, but not aggressive. It carried weight, and the stadium stilled immediately.“I’ve observed the situation,” Helmen continued. “I’ve evaluated your skill, your discipline, and your presence. Based on that, I have selected four cultivators who are worthy of passing this selection.”A slight pause followed.“The cultivators I have selected are: Humera from the Lotus Gene Sect. Morlen from Flame Pavilion. Kashant from the Thousand Wind Sect…”Another pause, brief but noticeable.“…and Sheo, from the Xenic Moon Sect.”There wasn’t much surprise in the crowd. A few quiet murmurs here and there. But it wasn’t shock—just recognition. Sheo’s name had already drawn attention in recent weeks.From the stands, Chiara sat in silence, her gaze locking onto Sheo the moment his name was called. Her expression was unreadable, but her thoughts were not. He still hadn’t fulfilled his promise to fight her.Helmen spoke again. “The names I’ve mentioned—step forward.”The four of them stepped forward and stood silently before the audience.“These four have passed today’s test.”The announcement stirred emotions. Those who hadn’t been selected glanced at the chosen ones with barely hidden jealousy. Some clenched their fists. A few tightened their jaws. No one spoke—but the frustration was obvious in their eyes.Helmen looked around the arena. His expression remained calm.“I can sense dissatisfaction,” he said. “Some of you don’t agree with this method of selection. You think it’s unfair. If I were your age, I would’ve probably thought the same.”He paused, letting the words sink in.“So I’ve decided to give you all a chance.”The murmurs immediately stopped. The crowd fell into sudden silence.Sheo sighed inwardly. He had been waiting for the twist.Helmen continued, “You may challenge the selected cultivators. If you defeat them in a challenge of their choosing, you will take their place. But if you fail… you will be disqualified. You won’t be allowed to participate in any more tests this year.”Sheo’s thoughts turned sharp.Of course there had to be a catch. This isn’t just about strength—it’s a test of judgment, self-control, and pride. Clever move, General Helmen.As expected, shouting began almost immediately. Many cultivators rose, filled with overconfidence and pride. The noise quickly grew—boasts, taunts, declarations of challenge.But after a few minutes, Helmen raised a single hand.The crowd quieted at once.He looked out over the stage. “Who wants to challenge Humera from the Lotus Gene Sect?”Seven stepped forward. Two from Flame Pavilion, two from Thousand Wind Sect, and three from Xenic Moon Sect.Humera stepped forward, her expression calm. She stood facing the seven.Helmen asked, “How do you wish to conduct your test?”She gave a soft smile. “I’ll set up a formation. If any of them can escape it, I will concede.”Helmen nodded once in approval.She knelt at the center and began her work. Slowly, carefully, she placed her seals and etched her lines. It took her thirty minutes to complete the illusion formation.Sheo, seated quietly on the side, watched each of her actions with focus. His eyes didn’t leave her hands. Every movement she made—every thread of energy, every seal placed—he followed it with great interest.As he watched, a soft, scratchy voice suddenly reached his ear. It felt as if someone had leaned in very close.“Young one… So you like that girl?”He jumped slightly and turned his head. An old woman sat beside him. He hadn’t noticed her arrive.She wore simple robes, her hair tied in a tight bun. Her eyes held a faint amusement.Sheo panicked for a moment, his words stumbling. “N-no! Not like that—!”Realizing how ridiculous he sounded, he composed himself and cleared his throat.“I’ve been studying formations lately,” he said. “So I couldn’t help but watch closely.”The old woman gave a warm chuckle. “Ah… So you were admiring the formation, not the girl.”Sheo nodded.“Who taught you?” she asked, her tone curious.“No one,” he replied. “I found some old formation materials during my journey. I studied them on my own.”For a brief moment, surprise flickered in her expression.She extended a hand. “Show me.”Sheo gently placed his hand in hers. With a small motion, he summoned thirty glowing energy flags. They floated above his palm, perfectly stable.The old woman’s eyes widened.“You created thirty energy flags… in just ten days? From reading?” she whispered.She leaned closer. “Do you realize how difficult that is? Formations can be created using many tools—tokens, physical flags, seals… But energy flags require understanding. Precision. Very few manage this without a guide.”Sheo didn’t reply. He simply looked forward.By now, Humera’s challenge was over. Not a single challenger escaped the formation.Next came Morlen. Ten cultivators stepped up. His challenge was energy purity. None of them passed.Then Kashant. Eleven challenged him. He faced them all with martial skill and won without much difficulty.And then—Sheo’s name was called.The atmosphere changed.The stage was warm with tension now. Twenty cultivators had stepped forward—all aiming to challenge Sheo. By this point, twenty-eight had already failed, yet more continued to charge ahead, blinded by pride.Sheo stepped forward slowly. His eyes swept across the crowd. The ones who stood against him weren’t weak. There were talented disciples from every other sect, even Ryler and Sunica.Of course. I was the target from the beginning.He looked toward Helmen for a moment, then turned back to the challengers.He raised his voice clearly.“All of you, come at once. A direct battle. If any of you can land a single blow—I’ll withdraw.”Gasps spread across the crowd. Some called him arrogant. Others just scoffed.Ryler smirked. “Don’t you think you’re overestimating yourself?”A few laughed. But Helmen raised his hand once more. Silence followed.He already knew Sheo’s request. Jinnia had informed him earlier. And he was genuinely curious.Sheo stood calmly at the center of the stage.The twenty opponents surrounded him, weapons ready, energy forming around them.Then—just as the attacks were about to strike—Sheo vanished.A bolt of lightning tore across the sky. Mist surged across the field.And then—nothing.Each challenger suddenly felt a cold edge against their throats.Thin, glowing threads. They looked like stars—each one shaped like a blade.From the stands, an elder of Knight Soul Academy murmured, “Sword Saint Parth’s False Star… wasn’t that technique lost?”Sheo now stood at the edge of the stage, leaning quietly against a wall. A single energy string danced around his finger.With one move, he could have ended the match.But instead, he retracted the energy.The challengers stood frozen.The stadium was silent.Sheo returned to his seat, expression calm. No pride. No emotion.Helmen smiled faintly.“Sheo has won,” he announced.The old woman let out a quiet chuckle. A soft, knowing smile touched her lips as she murmured to herself, “Your Space Heart… already approaching the second level in just a month. You're even more remarkable than I thought.”Standing a short distance away, General Helmen turned his head slightly, and without moving his lips, he used telepathy to speak to the old woman with utmost respect.“Miss Kaina, the boy wishes to step away from our training plan. He wants to train independently, possibly under a teacher.”Kaina tilted her head. “A teacher? And who would that be?”Helmen paused before replying, “Jinnia didn’t mention anyone. I don’t think even she knows.”There was a brief moment of silence, then Kaina nodded. “Just observe how he approaches you. If he asks directly, grant him permission.”Helmen was surprised. For a moment, the calm lines of his face shifted. But his respect for the woman ran deep, and he didn’t argue. He simply nodded.At that moment, the announcement echoed across the training ground. The selection for the final two seats was about to begin.Sheo quietly walked over and took a seat beside the old woman. She turned slightly and offered him a warm smile.“Congratulations,” she said softly.Sheo returned her smile, polite but curious. He didn’t know who she was, not really. But a quiet suspicion tugged at the back of his mind—one he chose not to voice.Instead, in a composed tone, he said, “Elder… judging from your insight, may I assume you’re affiliated with the Formation Group?”She smiled again and gave a gentle nod.“I see,” Sheo continued. “Would you mind sharing some insight? I have several doubts.”“I spent a fair amount of time studying formations,” she replied. “I believe I can answer a few of your questions.”With that, Sheo didn’t hold back. He began to ask—clearly, quickly, and with intensity. Each question was layered with his experience, confusion, and a hunger for understanding. And patiently, the old woman answered. She listened without interruption, corrected him with calm authority, and explained with care.Eventually, Sheo leaned forward and asked his final question, voice low but focused.“What’s the fastest way to create a formation during battle? I can’t afford to wander around with a compass or perform lengthy calculations while under threat.”The old woman raised her eyebrows slightly. “Unnecessary, you say?”Sheo nodded. “No matter where the formation is set, the core idea is the same—it should connect where a lattice ends or begins. The need for lengthy calculation seems redundant.”sheo casually took out fifteen formation seals from his sleeve. He gently tapped his hand, and the seals lifted into the air, flying outward.At first, they seemed to scatter in a random pattern. But in an instant, the arrangement clicked into perfect coordination—and a small energy-gathering formation stabilized mid-air.Her eyes sharpened.The old woman blinked, surprised for a moment. Then a laugh escaped her—a rich, genuine laugh that made her seem decades younger.“Well now… who would've thought? The technique you just demonstrated is called the Limit Circle Formation Art. It’s one of the most basic arts beginners learn,” she said with clear amusement. “Still… I understand how much time you must’ve spent refining it. Your speed and accuracy are genuinely impressive.”She paused, the tone of her voice changing slightly.“But you should know—using the Limit Circle for large or complex formations is nearly impossible. One would have to predict the future layout of the space-time lattice to make that work. And no one can do that.”Sheo fell silent.He hadn’t seen many high-level formations before. He lacked a point of comparison. But her words stayed with him—predicting the changes in space-time lattice. That was where his thoughts froze.The old woman noticed his silence and misunderstood. With a small shake of her head, she took out a sheet of paper and handed it to him.“This is a mid-grade killing formation. Flame Needle.”Sheo took it, eyes scanning the structure and the lines. His expression shifted as realization dawned—he had found the missing piece. Quietly, he began to study it. They were seated near the edge of the arena, the selection tests still in progress. Elisa had already claimed one of the final seats. Luzi was now in the middle of her match, fighting an elder to prove her worth.Sheo took a deep breath.The old woman was still watching him, a soft expression on her face.He reached into his storage ring and pulled out a low-grade beast core. Holding it between his fingers, he tossed it gently into the air and closed his eyes. Using his Space Heart, he reached out—not with sight, but with perception.And then something strange happened.A gentle warmth filled his eyes. He had felt this sensation before, many times. But he never truly understood it.Now, it sharpened.His awareness expanded.The seals slipped between his fingers—thirty in total. Each one glided through the air, guided by an invisible rhythm. They took their positions with precision, and before the beast core could touch the ground, it burst in mid-air.A single, piercing flame needle struck through it, clean and exact.The smile disappeared from the old woman’s face.Her eyes widened. A cold sensation crept down her back, followed by a sudden realization that sent a chill to her very core.Impossible.A thought crossed her mind—could this boy… could he have the same natural talent as Grandmaster Ritwik Chandela?Ritwik… a legend from the past. A master who had taken formation arts to a level few could comprehend. He had created the Formation Group and vanished without leaving a successor. No one had ever truly understood the techniques he practiced.She didn’t speak.Quietly, she stood and moved to Helmen’s side, still deep in thought.Sheo remained seated, eyes closed, immersed in a strange, deep clarity.Kaina spoke to Helmen again, her voice now steady, almost distant. “How’s the selection proceeding?”Helmen responded respectfully. “Elisa and Luzi from Xenic Moon have passed.”Kaina gave a short nod. “After this test, we’ll have roughly a month to prepare before entering the dungeon at Pulkina. I’ve informed Juvika. She’ll arrive before next month once her work is complete.”A shadow passed over Helmen’s face. Sadness, faint but visible.Kaina placed a hand on his shoulder. Her voice switched to telepathy, private and firm.“I’m not questioning your capabilities, but the threat level this time can’t be ignored. If things escalate, I’ll be forced to reveal myself. And if that happens, this place might be reduced to ruin. There are title monarchs hiding in the shadows. I could destroy them… but not without showing who I really am. That’s something I cannot afford. For now, it’s better if Juvika takes over.”Helmen gave a quiet nod.He then walked toward the center of the arena and raised his voice.“Morlen, Kashant, Humera, Sheo, Elisa, and Luzi have been selected as this year’s candidates.”Murmurs rose from the crowd. Those who hadn’t made the cut wore disappointment on their faces.Helmen raised his voice again. “You have one month. Prepare yourselves. If anyone wishes to speak now, this is your chance.”A still silence settled over the field.Then, a lone voice cut through the air.“I want to challenge you to a one-on-one match.”Helmen turned slowly. The speaker was Sheo.Helmen’s tone was flat. “State your demand. What is the format of this challenge?”Sheo stepped forward calmly. “I wish to opt out of the training program and train independently. I will still participate in the core selection. As for the match format, suppress your cultivation to Saint Level One. If I win, I leave without resistance. If I lose, I give up my seat.”The audience fell into absolute silence.Chiara leaned forward, interest flickering in her eyes.Kaina simply smiled, as if this had been expected.Helmen considered it for only a moment before replying. “Very well.”He stepped down, his presence steady. With a breath, he lowered his cultivation to Saint Level One and drew a scimitar.Sheo, too, inhaled deeply. Then he unsheathed his sword.The stadium stilled. No one dared to speak. No one even dared to breathe.Even suppressed, Helmen’s experience was vast.But the fight began with a flash—Sheo vanished.He appeared at Helmen’s side in a heartbeat, blade flashing.Helmen, unfazed, blocked the strike with ease.Their exchange began—fast, clean, and intense.Helmen’s techniques were flawless, forged from discipline. But Sheo was not falling behind. His speed and precision matched the general’s suppressed form.The ground shook as Helmen summoned a flame sphere and hurled it, but Sheo danced past it effortlessly.Then… something shifted.The sky changed.A starry field emerged, faint but perceptible, and Sword Mind spread out like a dense fog.Helmen immediately summoned a shielding layer.But then—Boom.A barrage of attacks came from every direction. Too fast. Too sharp. Each time Helmen tried to move, two more strikes met him.He tried to retreat.He failed.Sheo appeared—just ahead of him. Helmen was off balance. He had no footing to dodge.Sheo’s blade glowed.A surge of divine lightning spread from the ground up his arm and into the sword.He thrust.It was like a dragon charging through thunder.In that instant, the Xenic Moon sect held its breath.Jinnia smiled.Shuna’s eyes misted, filled with pride and memory.Bulma glanced at her. “You taught him that?”Shuna nodded slowly. “Yes… he truly mastered it.”The technique—Raging Dragon—was once feared across battlefields.Helmen gritted his teeth and raised his scimitar. Their blades met—Crack.The high-grade scimitar shattered.Sheo’s sword stopped just at Helmen’s throat.A moment passed.Sheo stepped back—and his own sword cracked and crumbled into fragments.He hadn’t intended to kill Helmen, but restraining that energy had cost him.Helmen shook his head, a wry smile appearing. “Impressive. You trapped me in a web of speed and finished it with a single decisive strike.”Then, with sincerity, he added, “Very well. I accept my defeat. You're free to leave.”Sheo bowed. “Thank you… for going easy on me.”As Sheo approached the Xenic Moon sect, Dreamy leaped from Shuna’s lap and landed gracefully on his shoulder.He bowed to Shuna.“Thank you for everything.”She hugged him gently. “Before you leave… I’ll craft a sword worthy of you. The one you used… was just something casual I made. But now, I’ll forge my masterpiece.”